Director: Jay Roach
Cast: Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis, Jason Sudeikis, Dylan McDermott, Sarah Baker, Katherine LaNasa, Brian Cox, John Lithgow, Dan Aykroyd, Karen Maruyama
Running Time: 85 mins
Certificate: 15
Synopsis: Two CEOs (Lithgow and Aykroyd) attempt to knock the previously unopposed North Carolina congressman, Cam Brady (Ferrell) from his perch, in order to increase their influence over the district. They do so by putting forward a rival candidate in Marty Huggins (Galifianakis). He’s naïve, easy to manipulate, and just what they need, but, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.
Will Ferrell’s brand of absurdly unapologetic humour has become a mainstay in the hearts of many over the years, and if yours is one of them, then you’ll be pleased to discover THE CAMPAIGN contains a veritable ocean of it. Roach (THE AUSTIN POWERS TRILOGY), and screenplay writers, Chris Henchy (THE OTHER GUYS) and Shawn Harwell (EASTBOUND & DOWN), competently maintain this tone, whilst weaving a few serious messages into the subtext as well.
However, the topics addressed in the text and subtext are not in the least bit original. The notion of easily corruptible politicians being pawns in a world run by hypocritical businessmen, although pertinent, is older than Chronos, the god of time (well, almost). In fact, all of the themes, along with the structure of the plot, closely resemble those which comprise TRADING PLACES (1983). Aykroyd, who played protagonist and corporate puppet, Louis Winthorpe III, in the eighties comedy, reverses his role for Roache’s offering; he and Lithgow portray the corporate puppeteers, pulling the strings of political power. This intertextuality is arguably evidence of THE CAMPAIGN being overtly used as a vehicle to re-emphasise the issues raised in TRADING PLACES. If this is the case, then at least the creators are acknowledging their source.
This deconstruction of the makers’ intentions may seem pedantic for a review on what is fundamentally a piece of entertainment, but if you’re going to throw your hat into the political satire ring, then you better be prepared to go hatless… and have your hat-throwing capabilities analysed.
Contrarily, if you’re only expecting an hour and a half of escapism via medicinal laughter, then THE CAMPAIGN should tickle your fancy. There are many blackly comical highlights, including a lively performance from Maruyama as a loyal maid, who makes constant selfless attempts to give Marty Huggins’ father (Cox) the impression of being – as he so elegantly puts it – ‘back in the good ol’ days’. A ludicrous spin on the political cliché of candidates kissing a child on camera to garner votes, and Huggins’ children confessing their dark sins to their father, also produce moments of comedy gold. Getting children to talk and swear like adults is the go-to method for getting easy laughs, but it still works well, when executed thoughtfully.
THE CAMPAIGN definitely ensures chortles and guffaws aplenty. There are no stones left unturned, regardless of how contentious they may be, but these stones have been examined before, and thoroughly. So, as long as you don’t expect a radical, innovative, or even slight departure from the usual feature comedy formula, then the levity should be enough to make the experience worthwhile.
THE CAMPAIGN is released Friday 28th September.
